GUG welcomes positive budget measures for Gozo students

The Gozo University Group (GUG) said in a statement that it “welcomes the positive budget announcements that introduced several measures towards all students and specifically for Gozitans, which are the organisation’s main interest. GUG has been working endlessly in trying to cater for all Gozitan students not only those undertaking a course at University of Malta but also at MCAST and ITS institutes and to this regards for the first time GUG has established its representatives and sub committees for these institutes.”

“The announcement of an increase by € 700,000 in the allowance for Gozitan students who are studying in Malta which means that Gozitan students will be equally compensated no matter which institute they choose, for the expenses they incur while living in Malta.” GUG contuned, “For the past months GUG has been pushing this issue to the concerned authorities and would like to thank the Ministry for Gozo for taking this matter seriously, which resulted in this achievement.”

“The investment in the University of Malta and the G.F Abela Junior College is also increasing with a further €58.2 million investment. The government expressed its commitment towards the completion and finalization of the ICT building with an added investment of €7.2 million.” GUG said that it “wishes to express that these investments are a very important step forward for the improvement of the University both physically and as an increase in intellectual ability of students.”

GUG sais that “scholarships have been given a lot of importance in this year’s budget and in all a total of €1,020,000 will be invested in scholarships, €120,000 of which given as opportunities for scholarships in the sports sector. Such opportunities are very important for students to continue developing themselves abroad with the help of government funds that offer equality for all.”

“Also, for the first time ever €500,000 are being allocated to market the island of Gozo as a distinctive tourist destination to address Maltese public and other countries. GUG believes that Gozo has unique characteristics that need to be targeted with the end result being more investment and tourist arrivals in Gozo even in the off-season having a positive impact on the economy of Malta.”

GUG continued that it “also supports the €320,000 which will be allocated to Gozo schools and additional work at the Ninu Cremona Complex to finalize a lab and the work continues on the improvement of health services offered at the General Hospital of Gozo which still needs investments. Although mentioning that employment remains Gozo’s biggest challenge this issue still needs to be tackled with creative and innovative measures.”

In conclusion GUG said that it “thinks that it was a good budget that addressed main issues such as education and infrastructure and also gave much needed importance to Gozitan students. GUG hopes that for the near future further investment will be done in the Gozo Campus of the University of Malta and questions whether the permanent link will give the island of Gozo what it really needs.”